http://www.speakstrong.com/newsletter/2007/03/01/undercover-for-the-boss/ By Meryl Runion and SpeakStrong, Inc. Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:10:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 http://www.speakstrong.com/newsletter/2007/03/01/undercover-for-the-boss/comment-page-1/#comment-1020 Kathleen Fri, 02 Mar 2007 14:51:23 +0000 http://www.speakstrong.com/newsletter/2007/03/01/undercover-for-the-boss/#comment-1020 I have the opposite situation. My boss and I were friends before we were boss and subordinate. It was natural to discuss personal events in our own lives and the lives of our coworkers. But as her employee, I now feel burdened by these discussions - which I never initiate - because I feel they interfere with my ability to form my own relationships with other employees in the group. I also believe it affects my credibility in the group. I am torn between my desire to let my boss/friend vent when she needs to, and my desire to be separate from her in the performance of my job. It took me a long time to be able to articulate my feelings to even myself, so now this pattern has gone on so long I don't feel confident in my ability to address it objectively. I'm thinking over some of the phrases suggested here as ideas I can adapt in my situation. Thanks for sharing. I have the opposite situation. My boss and I were friends before we were boss and subordinate. It was natural to discuss personal events in our own lives and the lives of our coworkers. But as her employee, I now feel burdened by these discussions - which I never initiate - because I feel they interfere with my ability to form my own relationships with other employees in the group. I also believe it affects my credibility in the group. I am torn between my desire to let my boss/friend vent when she needs to, and my desire to be separate from her in the performance of my job. It took me a long time to be able to articulate my feelings to even myself, so now this pattern has gone on so long I don’t feel confident in my ability to address it objectively. I’m thinking over some of the phrases suggested here as ideas I can adapt in my situation. Thanks for sharing.

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